4 TTP militants killed in SWA attack

PESHAWAR- At least four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, including a key commander, were killed in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan tribal region today, sources said.

Official sources said unknown persons attacked a car in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan Agency, killing four people and injuring another, reported a private TV channel. Other sources said that the clash occurred between the Khan Said alias Sajna and Waliur Rehman groups of the TTP. The sources added that those killed in the incident included a key commander Kashed Khan Mehsud who is believed to be a local commander of the Hakimullah Mehsud group while the others were also TTP fighters, the channel said. Taliban sources had yet to confirm the deaths of its fighters. Earlier, a key commander and Shura member of the TTP Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani had been killed during a clash between two rival TTP factions. Intelligence sources said the Sajna group was behind the attack as Asmatullah Shaheen had opposed Sajna’s appointment and supported Mullah Fazlullah to replace Hakimullah Mehsud as TTP chief.